News
Rival bandits kills each other over rustled cattles in Kaduna forest
Kaduna State Securiry report Monday indicated that rival groups of bandits engaged each other over sharing formuka of rustled cattles in Kaduna forest thereby killing a notorious gang leader, Nasiru Kachalla.
Kachalla believed to be a citizen of Borno State, but operated in Kaduna forest was said to have been behind several criminal acts, including kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling, and banditry in parts of the state.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed in a statement he made available to journalists
According to him, the State had information which was gathered through human intelligence that criminals from the rival sides were also killed, including some of Kachalla’s lieutenants.
The Commissioner said the clash occured in a forest around the boundaries of Kajuru and Chikun local government areas in Kaduna Central Senatorial district over sharing formula of a large herd of rustled cattles.
The gang leader, the Commissioner said, was involved in serial crimes of kidnappings, killings and banditry on the Kaduna-Abuja Road, as well as the Chikun and Kajuru general areas with gangs.
Kachalla and his gangs were said to have kidnapped seminarians of Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Kaduna on January 9, and the abduction of Mrs Bola Ataga and her two children on January 24, 2020.
Kachalla and his gang later killed one of the seminarians, Michael Nnadi, and Mrs Ataga before releasing her children.
Aruwan added that Kachalla’s gang was responsible for the kidnap of six students and two teachers of Engravers College at Kakau village in Chikun LGA on October 3, 2019.
While Kachalla was on the run, security agents arrested three members of his gang – Tukur Usman, Shehu Bello, and Mustapha Mohammed in April 2020.
In another development, troops repelled an attempted attack by bandits along the Galadimawa-Zaria road in Giwa LGA.
The commissioner noted that the bandits blocked the road for some minutes, shooting sporadically at motorists plying the route.
He, however, said a combined team of the 4 Battalion and Field Engineers Regiment of the Nigerian Army mobilised to the location.
Aruwan stated that the road was cleared, and normalcy was restored without any kidnap or harm done to motorists.
“Furthermore, the government was informed of an incident in a forest located in the western part of Chikun Local Government, where armed bandits opened fire on some hunters.
“Security agencies are carrying out investigations to ascertain the exact location, as well as fatalities if any. Citizens will be briefed on the operational feedback as it emerges,” he said in the statement.
On his part, Governor Nasir El-Rufai appealed to Tsohon Gaya, Sabon Gaya, and other communities with members missing in the hunting expedition to remain calm.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of State of emergency in Rivers State, saying it discredits Nigeria’s image.
The declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara packing for six months, while the elected members of the State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
Jonathan stated this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
He said elected officials have been removed from office in a very disappointing manner.
Contrary to Jonathan’s view however, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, expressed support for Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.
“The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.
“The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”
But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.
Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
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